Chapter 905: The Stiffened Xina! Speculation!

"It's Lady Xina and Lady Meng Yu!"

"Huh, who are those other people?"

"They seem to have come from Blue Star, and even cut off Lord Hack's hand."

"Heh, so the natives of Blue Star are this arrogant?"

"......"

Many people in the hall were undergoing rating certification.

Hack's scream as his palm was erased by Chaos Divine Thunder immediately drew the attention of most present.

Although the people of the Ember World also originated from the Blue Star world.

Over a century of independent development had instilled in them a unique sense of pride.

After all, those selected for the Ember Project were once elites.

Even their descendants retained this sense of pride.

Otherwise, they wouldn't refer to Blue Star people as "natives."

Seeing Xu Jingming, a Blue Star native, dare injure one of their own, many began to murmur.

"You're Xu Jingming?"

After her initial shock, Xina flew into a rage, her eyebrows snapping downward as she snapped:

"Do you really think defeating Green gives you free rein? How dare you attack someone?!"

BOOM—

The aura of an Eighth-Rank Mid-Level Grand Master erupted violently.

Accompanied by terrifying heat, a torrent of crimson flames surged from her body!

"Elemental Fire SS-Rank Ability: 'Heaven-Scorching Wrath Flame'!"

"No wonder Lady Xina's ability is so astonishing!"

"Haha, this Blue Star guy's in big trouble now."

"Pity, this guy looks pretty handsome."

"......"

Occasional voices of schadenfreude rose from the crowd.

Yet some frowned, seemingly unwilling to witness this scene.

"Hmm?" Xu Jingming raised an eyebrow.

He had never before encountered someone so righteous despite being clearly in the wrong.

"It seems the Ember Temple isn't as good as I thought." Xu Jingming activated his ability without expression.

Crackling—

A sharp thunderclap rang out as black Chaos Divine Thunder exploded from his body.

That cold, oppressive aura descended like the arrival of Death itself.

The hall, moments ago filled with chatter, fell utterly silent.

Such terrifying lightning!

That was the first impression of every person in the hall.

As the target of Xu Jingming's ability, Xina felt it far more intensely than anyone else!

She felt as if a monstrous beast had locked onto her, her body frozen stiff.

Even her control over her SS-Rank Heaven-Scorching Wrath Flame slowed drastically.

"How is this possible?!"

Xina's fury over Hack's injury vanished instantly; her body trembled unconsciously.

It reminded her of when she was just a teenager, before awakening her ability, and first encountered a Rank-One Beast.

She had believed she had long overcome such fear—yet here it returned, facing Xu Jingming!

"Fighting is forbidden within the Temple. Retract your ability."

"Otherwise, it will be regarded as a provocation against the Ember Temple."

At that moment, a fully armed guard unit marched swiftly from the other side.

Their captain, face grim, issued a stern warning.

But Xu Jingming remained motionless, expressionless, staring at Xina.

Su Qingli and Ling Shuang beside him also frowned slightly, their abilities subtly stirring, ready to strike at any moment.

Xina wanted to speak, but pinned by Xu Jingming's aura, her spirit taut and body rigid, she couldn't utter a word.

The guard captain saw the situation and felt immense trouble.

He was only a Seventh-Rank Grand Master—how could he intervene in a battle of this level?

As he hesitated whether to summon a higher-ranking guard captain, a voice suddenly echoed through the air:

"Oh? You're quite lively here."

SWOOSH—

A black figure appeared abruptly in the hall—it was none other than Moonshadow Cleric.

"Cleric." Xu Jingming gave a slight nod upon seeing Moonshadow Cleric.

He slightly reined in his aura, yet the Chaos Divine Thunder continued to churn, unretracted.

Opposite him, Xina gasped like a drowning person pulled onto shore.

After a long while, she regained her breath, shot a fearful glance at Xu Jingming, then bowed respectfully:

"Cleric."

"If you want to spar, go to the arena. This isn't a place for fighting."

Moonshadow Cleric turned to Xina, his expression carrying a faint warning.

Xina's demeanor stiffened; she nodded quickly: "Yes!"

Before a Ninth-Rank Peak powerhouse, even she dared not be reckless.

"Come, Xu Jingming. Before your rating certification begins, we must first record your data."

In contrast, Moonshadow Cleric smiled as he looked at Xu Jingming.

"Alright."

Xu Jingming nodded, retracted his Chaos Divine Thunder, and followed Moonshadow Cleric toward the side.

Ling Shuang and Su Qingli were taken by Meng Yu to rest nearby.

"With the Cleric here, it looks like no fight will break out."

"What kind of lightning ability does that Blue Star guy have? It felt so strong."

"No idea, but since he defeated Lord Green, he must have some real skill."

"......"

Wherever you go, the strong are always respected.

Xu Jingming's single aura burst had already shifted the entire hall's tone.

"Lady Xina, are we just letting him go like this?"

Hack, whose right hand had been erased, wore a grim expression.

For an Eighth-Rank Grand Master like him, the pain meant little.

What mattered was his pride!

A Blue Star native had publicly crippled his hand—this was a profound humiliation!

"With Moonshadow Cleric here, we can't act." Xina shook her head.

She was an Eighth-Rank Mid-Level Grand Master herself—yet just now, she had been intimidated by his aura.

That alone proved Xu Jingming's strength was extraordinary.

Moreover, from Moonshadow Cleric's contrasting treatment of her and Xu Jingming just now:

If a real fight broke out, the Cleric might not even side with her...

She paused, then added:

"Also, from the Cleric's tone just now,

Xu Jingming has already become a core member of our Temple and is about to begin rating certification.

Even if we want to act later, we likely won't have any chance."

"Core member?" Hack blinked in surprise.

The Ember Temple forbade core members from killing each other.

That meant he had to swallow this humiliation—and couldn't seek revenge at all.

Worse, he was only an Eighth-Rank Lower-Rank S-Rank—his strength was insufficient.

Without Xina, he could never confront Xu Jingming alone.

"So fast to become a core member? He really doesn't care about his identity on Blue Star."

Hack sneered, glaring fiercely at Xu Jingming:

"I'll see what rating you actually get!"

Not just Hack—Xina, who had originally come here to reapply for certification, also changed her mind, deciding to observe Xu Jingming's performance first.

"If he defeated Green, he's definitely Radiant Rank.

The question is how far he'll go—passing the seventh level would already be impressive."

Xina silently thought to herself.

Her own strength had merely just touched the seventh level...